Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Scent Control: Godsend or Con

Are Scent Loc suits a scam?
Is there really a spray out there that will make you invisible to a deer's nose?
Is there any way I can stop that nagging snort, snort, snort of being busted?

Why yes, that is English Leather for Men. Why do you ask?

The answers to these questions and more. Stay tuned.

Heres my take on scent control,this opinion is often flamed by non believers but it works for me.I hunted over thirty years with no thought to scent control of any kind,wet wool smell,week without a bath at camp,even a few years smoking and able to smell the ash tray smell on my fingers.In those years I killed bucks and enjoyed success,I always hunted into the wind and set with the wind in my face.Now we all know about winds swirling and changing direction as well as thermals in morning and evening.The only statement I can make for sure is that in that time I never shot a deer directly downwind of me and I had a lot of them scent me and blow before heading in another direction.I began to read about scent control in some of the hunting articles and scent-loc and some of its clones began appearing in catalogs.It was very $ in my opinion and seemed like too pat of an answer to this complex scent issue.Finially in 1998 I bought a Cabelas MTO 50 hunting outfit and spent the extra to get it in scent-loc.I reasoned that I needed hunting clothes that were water and windproof so why not try the scent control also?I wore it and discovered that deer still scented me and blew downwind so it wasn't a cure-all to human scent.Before giving up on the whole issue I started hunting from where I lived at this time instead of a camp so I tried a total scent control approach.I showered every morning in no scent soap and used no scent deodorant daily,I started taking chlorphil tablets daily and avoiding spicey and garlicly(sp) foods also.I began spraying my face(the only exposed skin)with this fall essence scent elim.and added scent-loc gloves to the program.I also added an underset of scent suppresent clothes to double up on the scent control.I switched to La Crosse rubber boots and stopped wearing all leather(belts sling watch band)brush teeth with baking soda.The last thing I hit was the gun itself,I clean the bore and then use cedar or spruce oil to annoint the bore and wipe the gun down completely with fall essence spray.This whole program took a year to implement and since then I have shot two bucks directly downwind of me and only heard one deer blow on me in four years now.Now I don't for one minute think I am "scent proof" if you are breathing and exhaling you are making scent,I believe instead that my scent is much more diluted so to speak and probably a fraction of what I used to put off.This I believe fools a deers nose into thinking you are farther away than you really are or perhaps the scent is older and more dissapaited than it really is.Of course staying up off the ground if possible and using James Valley scents that are the first scents I've used that don't spook or alarm deer also helps to hide your smell while giving out something more natural in the woods.I place some on each side of my head when sitting.Now I know a lot of guys won't or can't go to the lengths I have but every little bit helps,and the more you do the better it works.Scent-loc alone won't do it all,it takes a lot of work to even be mostly scent free.I also reactivate my scent loc every day not once a week like they say,the dryer only gets hot enough to partly release the foreign odors at each activation.I spent what I would have on another nice rifle to buy this stuff and its work using it but from my stand point and experience out where deer aren't used to human smell it can do the trick on confusing a mature bucks nose,maybe long enough for a shot.I watched a mature doe wind me this year when she walked out directly downwind of me,she stiffened and spent about 4-5 minutes holding her head up and using her nose.Finially she continued on out and crossed right past me without knowing I was sitting watching her.


woods

I whole heartedly agree with above. I on the other hand spent 20 years NOT GETTING any deer UNTIL I started being very scent conscious. I do not smoke but I could fill many albums (okay that dates me...CDs) with deer snort melodys.
NOW I tear down my boots (all the pads etc.) air them, spray scent neutralizer when reinserting. Wash body and clothes with scent free soaps. I also make my own scent cover spray. I boil pine needles of the species where I hunt, maybe through in some apple chunks, boil, boil, boil and then strain through a coffee filter. It saves buying $7.00 a bottle stuff and works for me. Rub it in the hair (whats left of it) and on the face and hands.
I have had deer just about lick me down wind. I have some carbon scent type pants but havent bought the top to go with it yet. I make sure to put unscented deoderant on the sternum (breast bone area) for those that don't know this is one of the most scented areas of the human body.
Have I spent a ton of money on scent control issue NO just some effort and time on the issue.
If you constantly hunt the wind at 400 yards of clear vision you do not need to worry about this at all. Just my $.02 NM in Vt.

The scent loc suits I cannot comment on because I cant afford the darn thing. But I can say I try to control my scent when in the woods. I tried a new line of products this year and was thoroughly pleased with the results. I bathe in Knight & Hale Ultimate body wash with fresh earth scent. I wash my clothes in their earth scent detergent. I use H.S. Scent Away spray on my clothes and equipment. I also use fresh earth spray from Wildlife Research Center on my boot soles. I took a deer-a very nice 8 pt to be exact- that approached down wind and came within about 30 yds of my son and me sitting on the ground. He tried to scent the strange shapes he saw but never flagged or snorted as he turned his attention back to one of his does that was trying to slip away. He gave me a broad side shot at about 50 yds. After the shot we discovered there was about 10 more does and 4 more bucks with them. None of them ever winded us. I would like to have a scentloc suit for me and my kid some day but for now this works quite well. By the way, the Knight & Hale products were purchased at Wal-Mart. The clothes wash was like $9 and the body wash was like $5.

I hunt almost 100% from ground blinds and being both a bow and gun hunter the key is always hunt the wind and I sure do use the scent wash and also the scent away spray. I also carry with me some baking soda in a plastic bag and if I get sweating. I will use the baking soda on the body. I also put 3 oz of real apple juice in the rinse cycle of the washing machine and then air dry outside and then pack my several set of camo in plastic storage box that is air tight...

I'm not saying that Scent-Lok Suits don't work, but I just haven't been convinced yet....I am a "stickler" on scent control....As far as spraying down with something to kill my scent, washing my clothes in specific detergents, and keeping my hunting clothes at a distance from things that might put a "unusual scent" into them.....Just my opinion.....I just ain't paying that much for that suit.....Them thangs are just to dang much....But, they must work for some people.....The manufacturers are selling them....Something is working.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I have hunted quail behind too many dogs with great noses to have any faith in "scent control" or cover scents. If you have ever witnessed what a dog with a good nose can do you know what I mean. Keep the wind in your face, the sun at your back and save your money for ammo to practice shooting more.